Four outstanding local athletes, ranging in age from 15 to 49 and representing a wide range of sports, have been nominated as Orillia’s Athlete of the Year for 2018.
The nominees include Annie Lloyd, Teddy McCollum-Kuntz, Hemant Patel and Bob Wink.
While OrilliaMatters will profile each of the nominees prior to the presentation of the prestigious award, here’s a very brief synopsis of each nominee’s accomplishments in 2018.
Lloyd, a graduate of Orillia Secondary School, is one of the nation’s top female women’s field lacrosse players. She not only excelled for the Orillia Lady Kings senior ladies’ team, she starred for her Queen’s University team and was chosen to play for Team Ontario.
Along the way, the 19-year-old won a provincial, university and national championship.
McCollum-Kuntz is a multi-sport athlete who excelled in hockey, baseball and volleyball. The 15-year-old helped his baseball team win a league championship and, in hockey, the netminder backstopped his squad to a regional Silver Stick title and helped them finish first in their league.
Patel is a local cricket player who is widely regarded as a leader on the field. The 35-year-old was named “man of the series” twice last season and, on eight different occasions, he was named “man of the match.”
Wink, 49, continues to shine on the world stage. In the summer of 2018, he finished eighth at the world waterski championships and won gold in provincial masters rowing competition.
The Orillia Athlete of the Year is chosen by a panel of judges that includes representatives from each of the three local high schools, the Elementary School Physical Education Department, Sport Orillia, Orillia Today, KICX 106, MAX FM 89, the YMCA and the city’s recreation advisory committee.
Last year, Ali Van Yzendoorn, an outstanding local cyclist, won the athlete of the year award, joining an impressive list of winners that includes NHL hockey player Ethan Moreau, Olympic figure skater Brian Orser, world-class track-and-field athlete Rob Town, internationally-ranked sprinter Toyin Olupona, Olympic boxer Walter Henry, multi-sport star Jerry Udell and a host of others.
This year’s coveted Athlete of the Year award, first donated by local trophy maker Norm Davis in 1952, will be awarded at the March 4 City Council meeting.
OrilliaMatters will profile each of the nominees in the coming days.
